DEMO:POLIS The Right to Public Space

The public space has become a political arena; its use and design is a matter of negotiation for the future. The public continues to make new demands on the basic principles of democracy and on the design of public spaces in which these are negotiated. DEMO:POLIS introduces the scope and significance of public space for contemporary society. Exemplary works, films, models, designs, concepts by artists and architects as well as participatory models, stress the potentials of public spaces for our civil society.

Works by artists including Nuno Cera, Hans Haacke, Birgit Hein, Reinhild Hoffmann, Elfi Mikesch, Michael Najjar, Michael Ruetz, Stih & Schnock, Wermke / Leinkauf, among others, will be shown, as well as designs and buildings by the architects Barkow Leibinger, Foster + Partners, Seán Harrington and A2 Architects, Kleihues + Kleihues, Lacaton & Vassal, Andrés Mignucci, Rozana Montiel, Sadar + Vuga, Michael van Valkenburgh, Zuloark, et al.

Numerous special events will take place during the course of the exhibition: during the opening weekend on 11 and 12 March, 2016, several of the artists and architects whose works are on display will provide insights into their working methods; a two-day conference in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut is planned to conclude the exhibition. In the exhibition, the fellows of the Junge Akademie will present critical works, installations and compositions; in addition, they will be hosting two themed program nights. The educational program KUNSTWELTEN (ART WORLDS) will offer guided tours and workshops for schools.

A catalogue in separate German and English editions will be published to accompany the exhibition. The exhibition is curated by Wilfried Wang, Berlin, member of the Akademie der Künste and O’Neil Ford Professor, University of Texas at Austin; Barbara Hoidn, Berlin, is the editor of the catalogue.

An exhibition by the Akademie der Künste. With kind support of the University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture, as well as the Society of Friends of the Akademie der Künste.